Within the continet of Africa, Christianity and Islam are the two main types of religion. Africa is also filled with citizens that celebrate both Islam and Christianity. Islam first arrived in Africa shortly after it was founded after it was transitioned through migration/immigration. While Christianity had held the highest religious position prior to the movement of Islam, Islamic followers did migrate from the north and the east, and first came into the country during trade in Egypt. (For further examination of Islam history in Africa:Islam in Africa). Christianity had been the most dominate religion when it was first introduced 2000 years ago in Africa. It grew supported through its teachings as it traveled down country to country. It wasn't until post Atlantic Slave trade that Christianity died down and Islamic traditions took over. Churches are still located within the continent, and Christianity is said to be the second dominate religion in Africa. African Christian churches are vigorous and exuberant. There is drum playing, dancing, and an abundance of singing! (Christianity in Africa)
Within these two religions, the people of Africa often practice common traditional religions. This traditional religion of Africa often worship a single God, though sometimes they celebrate a dual God. They celebrate the entities of nature, Earth, the Sun, the Moon, and the sea. African Religion is often similiar to that of the Native Americans. The traditional African Religion also focuses on more then one god and goddess (list of african gods).
Those who follow a dual God ship may also like the idea of a fellowship between a male and female God. Traditions within this indigenous religion are more practiced and are not written down- everything within this religion is oral and practiced not read or written. The living are said to be the middle men between the babies that are unborn and their ancestors.
Although the idea of one almighty God is universal, Africans pay more reverance to spirits. Spirtis are much more important to them than Gods, because they feel that they can relate to spirits. African people throughout the decades have become less and less attached to the "one high God" because they feel they cannot relate to it. Honoring their dead ancestors is much more important to them.
They are also known to like the telling of fortunes or fate. Divination is the telling of fortunes by using bones or small objects. The objects are thrown on the ground and into a circle. The fortunes are then told based on how the objects fall, if they are touching, and the marks they make.they believe that the spirits are intertwined within the life of the living and that God, or the Gods, while the creator, are not in their independent lives. African Religion Overview was a good site in helping look at the indigenousness religion located in Africa.
Traditional religions believe in anamism: the belief that myraid spirits inhabit the material world. They also believe in a "foce vitale" (or "living force") that actually links the animate and material world. This is a world where material objects posess a living soul or spirit. This spirit may be a recently dead ancestor, a nature spirit, or the spirit of a long-dead ancestor. African people hold high respect for the living dead. Offerings are commonly made to these spirits. Every society has a witch doctor. The witch doctor's responsiblity is to find the source of any evil beings causing problems in the local community. The witch doctor advises how people can rid this spirit. Africans who follow the traditional religions believe evil occurs when dead ancestors are neglected. Africans must always remember to honor the dead members of their families. Not only is this out of respect for the families, but to avoid any bad curses that could potentiall occur if they neglect their ancestor. However, there are other forms of evil besides angry ancestors. There are witches that haunt every community. Most of the time these "witches" are normal people who have turned evil because of hatred, greed, or jealousy. The African people use charms to protect themselves against evil. These charms, called juju or sometimes fetish, are representations of gods or spirits that the Africans honor.
This is a picture that shows and example of the divination that is founds in the indigenous religious traditions.
African Religion
Within the continet of Africa, Christianity and Islam are the two main types of religion.
Africa is also filled with citizens that celebrate both Islam and Christianity.
Islam first arrived in Africa shortly after it was founded after it was transitioned through migration/immigration.
While Christianity had held the highest religious position prior to the movement of Islam, Islamic followers did migrate from the north and the east, and first came into the country during trade in Egypt. (For further examination of Islam history in Africa: Islam in Africa).
Christianity had been the most dominate religion when it was first introduced 2000 years ago in Africa.
It grew supported through its teachings as it traveled down country to country. It wasn't until post Atlantic Slave trade that Christianity died down and Islamic traditions took over.
Churches are still located within the continent, and Christianity is said to be the second dominate religion in Africa.
African Christian churches are vigorous and exuberant. There is drum playing, dancing, and an abundance of singing! (Christianity in Africa)
Within these two religions, the people of Africa often practice common traditional religions.
This traditional religion of Africa often worship a single God, though sometimes they celebrate a dual God. They celebrate the entities of nature, Earth, the Sun, the Moon, and the sea.
African Religion is often similiar to that of the Native Americans. The traditional African Religion also focuses on more then one god and goddess (list of african gods).
Those who follow a dual God ship may also like the idea of a fellowship between a male and female God.
Traditions within this indigenous religion are more practiced and are not written down- everything within this religion is oral and practiced not read or written. The living are said to be the middle men between the babies that are unborn and their ancestors.
Although the idea of one almighty God is universal, Africans pay more reverance to spirits. Spirtis are much more important to them than Gods, because they feel that they can relate to spirits. African people throughout the decades have become less and less attached to the "one high God" because they feel they cannot relate to it. Honoring their dead ancestors is much more important to them.
They are also known to like the telling of fortunes or fate. Divination is the telling of fortunes by using bones or small objects.
The objects are thrown on the ground and into a circle. The fortunes are then told based on how the objects fall, if they are touching, and the marks they make.they believe that the spirits are intertwined within the life of the living and that God, or the Gods, while the creator, are not in their independent lives. African Religion Overview was a good site in helping look at the indigenousness religion located in Africa.
Traditional religions believe in anamism: the belief that myraid spirits inhabit the material world.
They also believe in a "foce vitale" (or "living force") that actually links the animate and material world. This is a world where material objects posess a living soul or spirit.
This spirit may be a recently dead ancestor, a nature spirit, or the spirit of a long-dead ancestor.
African people hold high respect for the living dead. Offerings are commonly made to these spirits.
Every society has a witch doctor. The witch doctor's responsiblity is to find the source of any evil beings causing problems in the local community. The witch doctor advises how people can rid this spirit.
Africans who follow the traditional religions believe evil occurs when dead ancestors are neglected. Africans must always remember to honor the dead members of their families. Not only is this out of respect for the families, but to avoid any bad curses that could potentiall occur if they neglect their ancestor.
However, there are other forms of evil besides angry ancestors. There are witches that haunt every community. Most of the time these "witches" are normal people who have turned evil because of hatred, greed, or jealousy.
The African people use charms to protect themselves against evil. These charms, called juju or sometimes fetish, are representations of gods or spirits that the Africans honor.
that is founds in the indigenous religious traditions.